NASA HAS LONG BEEN CONCERNED WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MICROMETEOROID AND ORBITAL DEBRIS IMPACTS TO COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF MANNED SPACECRAFT. VISUAL INSPECTION OF SPACECRAFT EXTERIORS BY CREW MEMBERS HAS BEEN THE PREFERRED METHOD OF FINDING AND ASSESSING HULL DAMAGE. IN THIS PROPOSAL WE AIM AT ULTIMATELY MAKING THE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROCESSES LESS TIME CONSUMING AND OVERALL EASIER FOR THE ASTRONAUT AND WE INTRODUCE THE ASTRONET: A NETWORK OF ASTRONAUTICAL FREE FLYING CO ROBOTS TO INTERACT WITH THE CREW MEMBERS AND ASSIST THEM IN THEIR EXTRA VEHICULAR ACTIVITIES EVA SUCH AS INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF SPACECRAFT EXTERIORS. THE ASTRONET IS ENVISIONED TO: I. SAFELY SURROUND THE CREW MEMBER DURING EVAS II. PERCEIVE SIMPLE HUMAN COMMANDS SUCH AS GESTURES AND INTERPRET THEM INTO PREDEFINED TASKS III. RESPOND TO HUMAN COMMANDS BY REDISTRIBUTING AUTONOMOUSLY IN SPACE TO DYNAMICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE TASK CONDITIONS SUCH AS VISUALIZE AREAS BEYOND THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THE ASTRONAUT TO SHED LIGHT AND BRING TOOLS IN A HUMAN CENTRIC WAY.

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